AN ECCENTRIC GENIUS. 51 



rolled over and over towards the fire, and tlius 

 succeeded in burning ttie cords bj which he was 

 fettered. Spriiiging to his feet and snatching up 

 his rifle, he thus effected his escape; for once, 

 sparing the life of an Indian and mindful of his 

 own. A cut of the Colonel's tomahawk in the 

 stem of an ash, was made to commemorate his 

 adventure there, and if the innovations of time, 

 and the inroads of an equally ruthless civilization 

 permit, the curious or interested may prove the 

 authenticity of this anecdote. 



As Audubon rambled one day beside his 

 favourite river, he observed a man landing from 

 a boat, with what appeared a bundle of dried 

 clover on his back. No sooner had the excla- 

 mation " What an odd-looking fellow ! an ori- 

 ginal, surely!" crossed his mind, than he per- 

 ceived the stranger approach him in haste, and 

 with astonishment, heard him inquire for the 

 house of Mr. Audubon. With the cordial hos- 

 pitality which characterized him, Audubon in- 

 stantly replied, " Why, I am the man, and will 

 gladly lead you to my dwelling." 



The traveller thus happily relieved from all 

 perplexity as to his entree, actually clapped his 

 hands with delight. He then took from his 

 pocket a letter of introduction, which he pre- 

 sented. Its contents were — 



